





         
         
         
         







                                  LETTERWRITER
         
            
                
                                         
                                   version 1.1




                                     MANUAL





         


         
         

         Edward Reasor                                  June, 1985
         P.O. Box 290539
         Tampa, FL  33617

         




         Copyright 1985 by Edward Reasor.  All rights reserved.  The 
         LetterWriter distribution diskette, containing a copy of this 
         manual, may be freely copied and shared.  Printed copies of 
         this manual may NOT be shared without prior written 
         permission from the author. 


                                                                Page 2



         
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                               -----------------
         
         
         What is Shareware?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3

         What is LetterWriter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
         
         The Benefits of Using LetterWriter  . . . . . . . . . . .  6

         LetterWriter Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
         
         Starting LetterWriter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
         
         The Functions of LetterWriter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
         
         Planned Enhancements to LetterWriter  . . . . . . . . . . 15

































                                                                Page 3


         
                               WHAT IS SHAREWARE?
                               ------------------
                           
         Shareware is a marketing concept.  The term was probably 
         originally coined by Bob Wallace of Quicksoft, Inc.  Mr. 
         Wallace wrote PC-Write (r), a full-feature text editor that 
         will be sent to you if you think LetterWriter is worth at 
         least $75.  Many of the Shareware ideas in LetterWriter come 
         directly from PC-Write(r) and I offer my public thanks. 
         
         LetterWriter is distributed under the Shareware concept.  
         Under shareware, you receive the software first and pay only 
         what you think the software is worth.  You are free, and 
         encouraged, to share the distribution diskette with others. 
         
         If you feel that LetterWriter is useful to you, send what your 
         conscience  dictates.  However, if you send at least $35 you 
         will be mailed the next upgrade to LetterWriter,  free.  If 
         you send at least $75 you will receive: the  next upgrade to 
         LetterWriter, the source code for LetterWriter - in Pascal, my 
         sincere thanks, a copy of PC-Write (r) - a full feature text 
         editor - fully compatible with LetterWriter, and access to a 
         help line for questions, all free. 
          
         You are asked to pay for LetterWriter if you find the software 
         useful.  Those who pay for LetterWriter will obtain support 
         for their software for free.  The level of support is based on 
         the amount paid.
         
         In order to pay for LetterWriter simply print the file FORM by 
         issuing the command:  COPY FORM PRN  then filling out the form 
         and mailing it, along with your check or money order, to:  
         Edward Reasor;  P.O. Box 290539; Tampa, FL  33617. 
         
         You are encouraged to print and fill out the file FORM and 
         send it in regardless of what you think LetterWriter is worth.  
         Mail for LetterWriter can be sent to: Edward Reasor;  P.O. Box 
         290539; Tampa, FL 33617. 













                                                                Page 4


         
                             WHAT IS LETTERWRITER?
                             ---------------------
                              
         LetterWriter is a computerized version of your address book, 
         and a whole lot more.  LetterWriter keeps track of all your 
         adresses for you.  You may organize your lists of addresses 
         into as many files as you choose and you may have as many 
         addresses per file as you want.  You can have an unlimited 
         number of addresses in an unlimited number of files.  The only 
         limit in LetterWriter is that the number of addresses in any 
         single file must be 300 or less in order to do file sorting. 
         
         A good way to organize files might be to have one file called 
         FRIENDS, which has the addresses of all your friends, another 
         called BUSINESS, which has all your business adresses, and 
         several other "speciality" files.  Speciality files might be 
         files like POLITICS, where you keep a list of all your 
         pertinent politician's addresses, so you can get to all of 
         them at once, and AUTO, where your keep a list of addresses 
         relating to your automobile. 
         
         LetterWriter also uses the addresses in its files to print 
         letters and envelopes in a variety of ways.  Look at the 
         letter example below:
         

                    __________________________________
                   |                                  |
                   |   your address                   |
                   |                                  |
                   |   date                           |
                   |                                  |
                   |   target name & address          |
                   |                                  |
                   |   salutation                     |
                   |                                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |            BODY                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |                                  |
                   |   complimentary close            |
                   |                                  |
                   |   your name                      |
                   |                                  |
                   |   :lw                            |
                   |__________________________________|
         
                                                                Page 5
                          
         In the above example, LetterWriter does everything excluding 
         the BODY of the letter.  It prints your address, gets the date 
         from the computer and prints that, prints the target address, 
         prints "Dear xxxxxxx" - where xxxxxxx is the name of the 
         person you want the letter to go to, reads in the BODY from a 
         file you have created using ANY text editor, prints a 
         complimentary close of your selection, and prints your name, 
         leaving enough space for a signature. 
         
         LetterWriter can print any length of letter, and automatically 
         numbers the pages for you.  LetterWriter can use any word 
         processor or text editor as long as it can create a standard 
         ASCII file for the BODY.  Some editors, such as Wordstar(r) 
         and Multimate(r) require that you export the file first, but 
         they are still totally usable. 
         
         One of the nicest features of LetterWriter is that you can use 
         the same BODY to print all of the letters in a single address 
         file.  For example, if you are moving, you can write a short 
         BODY that lets everybody know that your address needs to be 
         changed.  Then, by punching a couple of function keys, 
         LetterWriter will print all the letters and envelopes for 
         everyone in that address file. 

         As you've guessed, LetterWriter can also do envelopes, as well 
         as print the list of addresses in an address file.  
         LetterWriter can sort addresses for you, by first or last 
         name, so that you can look them up quickly when you want them.  
         
         When printing envelopes, LetterWriter prints everything for 
         you.  You do not key in any address, code number or anything 
         else.  Simply look up the address you want and press a 
         function key - the envelope will be printed.    

         Businesses should find LetterWriter a blessing, as they can 
         print out thousands of letters that appear custom but are 
         indeed form. 
















                                                                Page 6


                       THE BENEFITS OF USING LETTERWRITER
                       ----------------------------------
         

         There are lots of benefits to be obtained from using 
         LetterWriter.  Most of them involve less wear and tear on you, 
         the person who wants to get the most from your computer.
         
         Here is a PARTIAL list of some of the bennies of LetterWriter:
         
            .  Saves disk space as letters can be saved and reused, and 
               addresses, salutation, etc., are not saved with the 
               letter. 
         
            .  Eliminates the need to keep an address book, therefore 
               there is nothing to look through or copy from, but 
               LetterWriter will produce a list of addresses if you 
               want an up-to-date address book. 
         
            .  Produces letters that conform to the International 
               Standard for Business Correspondence.
         
            .  Envelopes and mailing lists can be produced easily and 
               quickly.
         
            .  Saves time at the keyboard as no address ever has to be 
               written or remembered again, and cuts the time required 
               to produce envelopes and letters substantially. 
























                                                                Page 7


         
                            LETTERWRITER REQUIREMENTS
                            -------------------------
                                            
         
         In order to use LetterWriter you don't need much at all.  For 
         hardware you should have:  an MS-DOS (r) or IBM (r) computer, 
         a color monitor, and a printer.  LetterWriter should run on 
         any MS-DOS (r) computer, (it has been tested on several), but 
         whether it will run on your particular machine is not 
         guaranteed. 
         
         LetterWriter uses colors to make the whole system more user 
         friendly.  Therefore, a color monitor is required.  Future 
         enhancements to LetterWriter will make the type of monitor 
         optional. 
         
         LetterWriter will run on the IBM PC jr, PC, XT, and AT (r).  
         LetterWriter uses function keys in its operation, (the two 
         columns of ten keys on the leftmost part of the keyboard for 
         IBM (r) users), and therefore IBM PC jr (r) users will have to 
         look up how to use function keys if they don't already know 
         how. 
         
         Nearly any printer will work with LetterWriter.  The letters 
         that LetterWriter produces are designed for 80 column width.  
         Envelopes are designed for 4 1/8 by 9 1/2 size (business 
         envelopes), but other sizes can usually be used.  Due to the 
         fact the the standard business envelope will not normally fit 
         in an 80 column printer, it might be wise to use a larger 
         carriage printer, at least for the envelopes.  Otherwise you 
         can print the envelope cover on normal paper and cut and 
         paste.
         
         For software you only need DOS version 2.0 or higher, 
         (including 3.0 and 3.1), and a word processor.  Any word 
         processor will do, and, specifically speaking, you do NOT need 
         a word processor to use the address-keeping and envelope 
         printing parts of LetterWriter.  If you want to print letters 
         on an attached printer you will need a word processor to build 
         the BODY of your letter. 
         
         The word processor, or text editor, needs to be able to 
         produce standard ASCII files.  Many editors do this as a 
         matter of course such as the IBM Professional Editor(r), 
         SPF(r), PC-Write(r), and many others.  Nearly all editors 
         allow you to create a standard ASCII file through exportation.  
         Multimate(r) and Wordstar(r) are two examples.

         In whatever editor you choose, set the left margin so that 
         text begins in column 10.  Set the right margin to whatever 
         you want, but text ending in column 70 probably looks the best 
                                                                Page 8
         for 80 column wide letters. 
         
         In the BODY feel free to type in anything you want to.  Any 
         set of characters you want separated by whatever you wish 
         won't harm the operation of LetterWriter.  LetterWriter works 
         with any BODY.  In this way you can enter special character 
         strings for doing unusual printing such as underlining or 
         italics.
              
         Everything else you need is on the LetterWriter distribution 
         diskette.  These are the files on the LetterWriter 
         distribution diskette: 
         
              LW.COM                     - the LetterWriter system.
              ME.ME                      - file that holds your address.
              END                        - holds complimentary close.
              MANUAL                     - this manual.
              READ.ME                    - quick reader.
              FORM                       - form to use to pay for 
                                           LetterWriter. 
         

         As you use LetterWriter these files will be added:

              *.ADR                      - files of addresses.
              *.*       or     *         - bodies of letters.
              TEMPFILE                   - a file used occasionally, 
                                           and deleted immediately 
                                           after use. 
         
         You can name the body of a letter anything you want, as long 
         as it does not conflict with a file of the LetterWriter 
         system. 
         




















                                                                Page 9


         
                             STARTING LETTERWRITER
                             ---------------------
                              
         
         The first thing you should do is make a backup copy of the 
         LetterWriter distribution diskette.  This will protect you in 
         case your working diskette gets damaged and will make it 
         easier for you to pass along LetterWriter to your friends and 
         associates.  You can make a backup copy of LetterWriter using 
         the DOS COPY, or DISKCOPY, command. 
         
         For purposes of example, it will be assumed that you are 
         using LetterWriter from the 'A' drive of your system.  
         LetterWriter will run under any drive and directory, 
         including hard disks, as long as the LW.COM, ME.ME, and END 
         files are present. 

         After putting the LetterWriter diskette in drive 'A' and 
         typing:   A:   at the DOS prompt, you are ready to start.  
         Then type in LW at the A>, followed by the ENTER key.
         
         A>LW
         
         The LetterWriter introductory screen will appear.  It contains 
         information about the Shareware concept and some benefits you 
         will get if you pay for your copy of LetterWriter. 
         
         At the top of the introductory screen is a prompt asking you 
         to supply the file name where adresses are found.  You may 
         enter any name you please.  If the file exists, then 
         LetterWriter will use that file and take you to the main
         screen.  If the file does not exist, (and it shouldn't if you 
         are a first-time user), then you have the option of creating 
         it.  Go ahead - a few extra files laying around never hurt 
         LetterWriter.
         
         The next screen is the main screen of LetterWriter.  You 
         should see 'LetterWriter' at top.  From there you can invoke 
         any of LetterWriter's seventeen functions. 












                                                               Page 10



                          THE FUNCTIONS OF LETTERWRITER
                          -----------------------------

         
         On the main screen of LetterWriter you will notice there are 
         seventeen short function descriptions.  Each begins with 
         something like F1, SF5, etc.  These the function keys.  F1 
         means to press the key marked F1 in order to invoke that 
         function.  To invoke the ones marked SFx hold down the shift 
         key while pressing the function key.  So SF4 means shifted 
         function key four. 
         

         F1 = ADD NEW ADDRESS

              Use this function to add new addresses to the address 
              file you are currently working with.  If you are using an 
              address file called FRIENDS, use F1 to add another 
              friend. 

              When you press F1 the five lines at the top of the screen 
              will be blanked, if there is an address there, and you 
              will be placed in column one of the line titled First 
              name.  Simply enter the first name and hit enter - use no 
              trailing blanks.  You will be placed on the Last name 
              line.  Continue in this manner until you have hit enter 
              on all five lines.  For any line where there is no entry 
              - don't worry, just hit enter. 
              
              Both the first and last names can be up to twenty 
              characters long, and the other three lines can be up to 
              forty characters each.
         
              Addresses will always be added to the end of the current 
              file.  You can change their position by SORTing the file.
              
              
         F2 = CHANGE DISPLAYED ADDRESS
              
              Use this function to change the displayed address.  It is 
              especially useful when someone on one of your mailing 
              lists moves.
              
              When you press F2 you will placed in another screen.  
              This screen has each of the five address lines labeled 
              with a function key.  Press F1, for example, if you want 
              to change the first name line of the displayed address.  
              You will be prompted for the new name.  Type in the new 
              name just as you would for an ADD ADDRESS and hit enter.  
              The new name will be displayed with the rest of the 
              address.  Press F10 when you have changed all you want,
                                                               Page 11
              and you will be returned to the main screen. 
              
              
         F3 = DISPLAY PREVIOUS ADDRESS
              
              Use F3 and F4 to move about in your list of addresses.  
              Using these two you can look up any address you want and 
              position LetterWriter to the address you want to work 
              with.  If you are at the beginning of the file and press 
              F3 then LetterWriter will tell you so and not move the 
              displayed address. 
              
              
         F4 = DISPLAY NEXT ADDRESS
              
              Use to get, or show, the next address in the list of 
              addresses in that address file.
              
              If you are at the end of the file and press F4 then 
              LetterWriter will tell you so and not move anything.
              
              
         F5 = DELETE DISPLAYED ADDRESS
              
              Use this function to delete the address you are currently 
              looking at.  Useful when one of your FRIENDS is no longer 
              a friend. 
              
              
         F6 = CHANGE MY ADDRESS
              
              LetterWriter lets you update YOUR address.  The function 
              works nearly identically to the ADD ADDRESS function.  
              Simply type in your new address, along with your name, 
              and hit enter after you have finished each line.  Your 
              address will be placed in the file ME.ME. 
              
              
         F7 = CHANGE COMPLIMENTARY CLOSE
              
              When you press F7 you will be prompted to enter a new 
              complimentary close.  The prompt will appear just below 
              line five of the adress block.  The complimentary close 
              in LetterWriter can be up to forty characters long, and 
              will be placed in the file END.

              Change the complimentary close to signify the mood of 
              letter.  For example, 'Sincerely,', is often used for 
              business correspondence and some letters, but 'Love,' 
              might be a little more appropriate when writing to mom.


         F8 = SORT ADDRESS FILE BY FIRST NAME
              
                                                               Page 12
              Press function keys eight and nine to sort the file you 
              are currently in.  F8 will sort the file by first name in 
              ascending order.  F9 also sorts in ascending order.  When 
              either F8 or F9 is completed, you will positioned back at 
              the beginning of the file.  Spaces are lower than 
              numbers, which are lower than capital letters, which are 
              lower than minor letters. 
              

         F9 = SORT ADDRESS FILE BY LAST NAME
              
              Uses the last name, instead of the first, as the key for 
              the sorting operation.
              

         F10 = EXIT
              
              Use this key to exit LetterWriter.  The screen will be 
              cleared for you.
              
              
         SF1 = PRINT LETTERS CONTINUOUSLY
              
              Press SF1 when you want to use the same BODY and print a 
              letter to everybody in the current address file.  
              Continuously means that you are using form feed paper or 
              a printer with a form feed.  Therefore, your printer will 
              not run out of paper after each sheet has been printed. 
              
              LetterWriter will prompt you for the name of the file 
              where the BODY of the letter is located.  This prompt 
              appears just under line five of the address block.  If 
              the file exists then printing will begin otherwise 
              LetterWriter will tell you it could not find the file. 
              
              LetterWriter will print any length letter you choose to 
              write, and will automatically number the pages for you.  
              It will also continue to print until it has printed a 
              letter for every address in the current address file.  
              This could be two, three, or thousands.
              
              Great uses abound such as the college student who needs 
              to write home to family: he can create one BODY and hit 
              everyone at once.  The SF1 function is very useful. 

              
         SF2 = PRINT LETTERS WITH STOP
              
              If you do not use form paper, do not have a form feed 
              mechanism, or simply want to print some letters on your 
              letterhead, then SF2 is for you.  
              
              SF2 works like SF1 in that you are prompted for a file 
              where the BODY exists and where LetterWriter intends to 
                                                               Page 13
              print a letter for every address in the current file, but 
              with SF2 LetterWriter stops after every page break and 
              gives you a chance to insert the next sheet of blank 
              paper.  
              
              Press any key on the keyboard to indicate that you have 
              the next sheet of paper ready to go and LetterWriter will 
              print it, then stop again.  This will continue until the 
              entire printing job is completed. 
              
              
         SF3 = PRINT ENVELOPES
              
              Use SF3 when you want to print an envelope for every 
              address in the current address file.  Normally, SF3 would 
              be used with SF1 or SF2.
              
              LetterWriter will ask you to put an envelope in place and 
              press any key when ready.  LetterWriter will print your 
              return address and one of the addresses in the current 
              file and then eject the envelope from the printer.  
              LetterWriter will continue in this fashion, stopping 
              after every envelope, until they all are printed. 
              
              If you cannot fit an envelope in your printer than simply 
              print the address on a standard piece of paper and cut 
              and tape the address onto the front of an envelope, or 
              cut and fold the paper into an envelope.  Both give a 
              typed envelope instead of a hand printed one.
              
              Future enhancements to LetterWriter will allow 
              LetterWriter to print addresses on envelopes that are 
              connected to form paper for continuous envelope printing. 


         SF4 = PRINT LIST OF ADDRESS
              
              Pressing SF3 will print the entire list of addresses in 
              the current file.


         SF5 = PRINT ONE LETTER CONTINUOUSLY
              
              LetterWriter realizes that you will not want to print ten 
              thousand letters every time you use the system, and 
              that is why SF5, SF6, and SF7 exist.  They function 
              exactly like SF1, SF2, and SF3 respectively, except that 
              they only use the currently displayed address instead of 
              every single address.  You should use these functions to 
              do individual letters.
              
              SF5 is used to print one letter when continuous paper is 
              available.

                                                               Page 14
              
         SF6 = PRINT ONE LETTER WITH STOP
              
              Identical to SF2, except prints a letter only for the 
              currently displayed address.
              
              
         SF7 = PRINT ONE ENVELOPE
              
              Identical to SF3, except prints an envelope only for the 
              currrently displayed address.











































                                                               Page 15


              
                      PLANNED ENHANCEMENTS TO LETTERWRITER
                      ------------------------------------
                                                  
          
         Although LetterWriter should prove to be a useful tool for you 
         as is, there are several enhancements planned for a version 
         that will be dubbed version 2.0. 
         
         1.  Key word searches will be added so that addresses can be 
             found without using the F3 and F4 keys.

             A.  Also, a function will be added to go to the beginning 
                 of the file.
             
         2.  Additional printing options will be added such as printing 
             to envelopes that are on formed paper.     

         3.  Fields will be added for recording home and work phone 
             numbers.
         
         4.  Capability added to select: first name only, last name 
             only, both names, or a generic "Dear Sir/Ma'am:" to be 
             used in the printing of the salutation. 
         
         5.  Including a utility for updating old data files from 
             LetterWriter version 1.0 and 1.1 to version 2.0.
         
         6.  Adding code for making the type of monitor that 
             LetterWriter will run under be either monochrome or color.

         7.  Better editing capability for adding, and changing 
             addresses.  This includes things like activating the TAB, 
             BACKTAB, INS, DEL, and cursor control keys.  Allowing 
             address changes on the main screen. 

         8.  Faster printing operation.
         
         This is just a beginning.  If response to LetterWriter is high 
         then many additional capabilities will be added, (several are 
         already in the works)!
         
         Much luck and happy computing!









